Machine for automatically producing given work on successive surfaces of articles



2,486,819 GIVEN Nov. 1, 1949 L. G. BROWN MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING WORK ON SUCCESSIVE SURFACES OF ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1946 lhwcmor Lnsly G. Brown Nov. 1, 1949 5, BROWN 2,486,819

MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING GIVEN WORK ON SUCCESSIVE SURFACES OF ARTICLES Filed Dec. 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Summer Linsly G. Brown L. G. BROWN MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING GIVEN WORK ON SUCCESSIVE SURFACES CF ARTICLES @J 1 AT 9 2 1 C 9 e 1 D u d W 8 l N i F 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.14

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Snventor Linsiy G. Brown Cttorncu Patented Nov. 1, 1949 MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUC- ING GIVEN WORK ON SUCCESSIVE SUR- FACES OF ARTICLES Linsly G. Brown, Jamestown, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1946, Serial N0. 713,486

9 Claims. (01. 51-137) This invention relates to a machine for use in preparing or finishing surfaces of multiple-sided elements or articles, and is more particularly directed to a machine that includes article or element turning mechanisms.

The present embodiment of the invention discloses a machine adapted to convey articles from one to another given point and, during the travel between these points, operates to turn the article to sequentially present given surfaces to an operator or a mechanism, at predetermined stations, to facilitate the performance of one or more finishing operations as each given surface is presented.

Many fabricated articles, and perhaps more particularly those fabricated of wood, are produced from a number of pre-finished parts. Some of these parts readily lend themselves to rapid, quality production, at least to the extent that all, or most of the surfaces thereof, present little or no problem in preparing for or finishing. However, other parts, by reason of their peculiar size, contour, or number of surfaces, in general can only be finished or prepared for finish by following slow, tedious, and costly steps. To more clearly illustrate, attention is directed to the posts or legs of a wooden bedstead. Frequently these posts not only include curved or rounded surfaces, but intervening fiat surfaces as well. By reason of the particular design of a bedstead, the posts thereof may have from three to six, or possibly more, sides or flat surfaces. As with all unfinished stock parts, the posts must be provided with smooth surfaces preparatory to the application of the desired finish dressing or coating. Although rounded surfaces on posts do not readily lend themselves to rapid operations in their preparation for finishing, it is believed that the operation of preparing the fiat surfaces of posts, or analogous parts, for a finishing operation, may be greatly accelerated.

To this end the present invention has been developed and it is, therefore, a purpose and object to provide a machine that is capable of automatically preparing, dressing, or finishing several or all of the plane surfaces of a multiplesided article.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a conveyor for moving multiple-sided articles from one given point to another and provide means for effecting successive partial turning of the articles about their longitudinal axes.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a machine that includes conveying mechanism for moving multiple sided articles in a direction transversely of their length and from one given point to another and, during such travel, turning these articles to present successive sides in a given plane, and dressing or otherwise preparing the sides of the articles as they are presented in such plane.

Another important object of the invention lies in the provision of mechanism by which to rotate multiple plane-sided articles in order to present the desired side to an operator or suitable mechanism, at given points or stations, to enable the successive preparing, dressing or finishing of each side as presented.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a machin having a conveying device and a mechanism for turning a multiplesided article in a direction perpendicular to its length to expose or present successive sides theregf for the preparing, dressing or finishing operaion.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of conveying and turning mechanisms for a machine having sanding belts operable to abrade flat surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a machine having article conveying and turning mechanisms embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine, showing an article in position for movement by the machine conveyor;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism utilized to turn a four-sided article, the mechanism being shown in position of rest;

Figs. 5, 6, and. 7 are views similar to Fig. 4, showing the successive steps in the operation of the mechanism by which to turn an article degrees;

Fig. 8 is a view showing the mechanism in the position of Fig. 4 after having turned an article and preparatory to functioning to turn the next succeeding article;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 shows a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified controller for the turning mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a further side elevational view of 3 the turning mechanism with another type of controller applied thereto;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modification of the turning mechanism, being adapted, in this instance, to turn a foursided, panel-like article 180 degrees.

Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Fig. 12, showing various positions of the panel during the process of its being turned 180 degrees;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another modification of the turning mechanism, herein the mechanism is being adapted to turn a six-sided article to present successive sides thereof in a given plane; and

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15, showing one of the positions of the six-sided article during the turning operation.

For the purpose of more clearly bringing out the advantages of the invention, it is shown in connection with the finishing or preparing for finishing of the posts or legs of a wooden bedstead. As above mentioned, the artistic design for the posts of a bedstead frequently requires a number of fiat-sided portions. These fiat portions, from top to bottom of the posts, may be interrupted by rounded areas at one or more points, but, since the rounded areas are generally of smaller proportions than the multiple flatsided portions, the invention becomes extremely advantageous in accelerating the operations of preparing these sides for finishing, or in actually finishing them, this depending on whether or not the surfaces of the posts are contacted by an abrading mechanism or exposed for a painting or other finishing operation.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the reference numeral I is employed to generally designate a machine which includes a bed II. This bed comprises a base l2 having upwardly extending sides l3, Suitable posts [4 support cross channels [5, which in turn mount the bed at desired operator height. The sides I3 of the bed may serve as a convenient means of supporting or mounting the sprockets, chains, guides, etc., of a chain type pusher, generally indicated by the reference numeral I6. This pusher includes pairs of end sprockets I! and I8, and numerous intermediate idler sprockets I9. Two endless chains 20 are mounted on their respective sets of sprockets; namely, ll, [8, and I9. Guides or guards 2!, shown in the drawing, may be provided, as found necessary. The chains 20, through their sprockets 18, are simultaneously driven by a motor 22 through a suitable speed reduction transmission 23. This transmission, as shown, is directly connected with the sprockets I8 and, through belt 24, with motor 22. Of course, the transmission 23 is variable in order that the speed of travel of the chains 20 may be regulated in accordance with a given work to be performed on the machine. At predetermined intervals, brackets 25 are attached to corresponding links of each of the chains 20. Pairs of these brackets secure the ends of a transverse pusher bar 26. In the present disclosure, the brackets on each chain are spaced between one and two feet apart, since this is best suited to the moving of the articles or posts illustrated.

Between the chains 20, two or more article or post supporting rails 21 are provided. These rails run lengthwise of the bed ll, being parallel and spaced apart a distance such that the fiat surfaces of a post or other article may rest thereon and be moved therealong under impulse of a pusher bar of the conveyor. It is, of course, contemplated that these rails will be adjustable transversely of the bed to adapt them as a support for articles or posts of various lengths, or those having more or differently spaced, fiat sides. However, under the circumstances, the pusher bars 26 would be of sufficient length to extend beyond and have their ends ride on the upper surfaces of the rails 21 when the conveyor is in motion.

As shown in the drawing, it is found convenient to provide pairs of transversely disposed, fiat, abrading belts. In the present instance, belt 28 is intended to have a coarse abrasive surface, Whereas the adjacent belt 29 is provided with a finer abrasive surface. Each pair of belts may be driven by its own motor, or a common drive. The particular means for driving these belts forms no part of the invention and, therefore, is not shown. The belts, of course, are mounted on suitable pulleys 3|, carried by individual upstanding arms 32. These arms may be supported on base members 33 which are adjustable, through wheels 34, to so individually move the pulleys as to assure proper tensioning and tracking of the belts. As suggested, the base 36, from which the adjustable pulley supports extend, may be carried by the machine posts [4.

For purposes of disclosure, the machine is intended to be provided with four sets or pairs of belts 28 and 29, the reason for this being that the article or post illustrated is four-sided, and it is intended that the machine be operable to finish or smooth all four of the flat surfaces as the post is conveyed from one end to the other of the machine. Since each post, following the operation by the rough and finishing belts to one surface, must be rotated about its lengthwise axis degrees before the next adjacent surface may be worked upon by the next set of belts, means is provided in advance of the second, third, and fourth sets of belts for rotating each post the desired ninety degrees. This means takes the form of a mechanism which, although not selfpowered, serves to rotate or turn the post through the force applied by the continuously moving pusher bar of the conveyor. Referring to Fig. 1, the pair of belts designated as X are intended to contact the uppermost surface or surfaces of a post when the post is mounted on the rails 21, and the set of belts Y are intended to act upon the next adjacent fiat surfaces of the post. In order that the post may be rotated to present the next adjacent flat side or surface to the set of belts Y, the rails 21, immediately in front of belt 28 of set Y, are formed with cut-out areas or depressions 37 which extend downwardy from the top surface of the rails. As may be seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing, each cut-out is open and the walls forming it have a slightly concave surface 38 and a somewhat convex surface 39. For convenience of disclosure, and to avoid repetition in the drawings and description, it is believed sufficient to state that preceding the third and fourth sets of belts mentioned, the rails are provided with cut-out areas or depressions similar to those shown and described.

The mechanism for turning the article or post consists of wheels 4|, the number of such wheels corresponding to the number of rails 21. Each wheel 4| is mounted to turn about a horizontal shaft 42 that is attached, in any suitable manner, to a vertical side of the rail 21. Each wheel is shown to include four, fiat, marginal surfaces indicated as 43, 44, 45, and 46. At the forward end of each of these surfaces is an upstanding lug 41 which, on its opposite edge, constitutes the trailing portion of the next preceding fiat surface. To illustrate, the lug 41 of surface 43 forms the trailing portion of the surface 44.

In considering the operation of the wheels, attention is first directed to Fig. 4 wherein corresponding wheels, carried by the rails, are initially so positioned that one of the lugs 41, indicated as A, projects somewhat above the upper surface of the rail in order that it may lie in the path of travel not only of the post, but the pusher bar 26 as well. Although each wheel is shown as having four identical surfaces, terminated at their leading ends by lugs 41, the present use of the invention requires only the presence of a pair of opposite surfaces 43 and 45, or 44 and 46. However, all four lugs 41 must be provided, substantially as shown. It may be stated that the other pair of surfaces, directed 90 degrees to the required surfaces, merely renders the wheels more readily adjustable at the start of operation of the machine. In order that the wheels 4| will, following each turning operation, come to rest with one of the lugs 41 occupying the position shown in Fig. 4, means is provided for preventing rotation of the wheels in any but a forward direction. This means, as shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, consists of a member 48 that is swingable about a pivot 49, attached to the same side of the rail as the wheel with which it is associated. The member includes a shoulder 5|, from which extends an arm 52, having a weight 53 of suitable proportions attached to its end. The member 48 is intended to swing freely about its pivot 49, weight 53 being so located that the member, when in balance, will position the shoulder 5| in the path of travel of the lugs 41. Thus each wheel is constrained to rotate in only one direction, and not even vibration, or laxity on the part of an operator of the machine, can rotate the wheel to a point such that one of the lugs 41 would become jammed by improper contact with a moving post or pusher bar. Of course, as the wheel is rotated in its proper direction in the manner hereinafter set out, lug 41 will contact the body of the member 48, swinging it to an extend to displace the shoulder 5| from the path of travel of the lug until such time as the end of the lug has just passed the shoulder.

To more fully appreciate the advantages of the invention, at least a part of the cycle of the operation of smoothing or sanding the surfaces of a four-sided post is set out, as follows: It may be assumed that the post 54, of the type shown in the drawing, is intended to be run through the machine. This post, for purposes of illustration, shows portions 56 and 51 as being formed with four flat sides 58. In posts of this kind, the area intermediate the flat portions, and possibly the ends, are of lesser size and, therefore, in nowise affect operation of the machine or the work to be performed. One or the other of the rails 21 shown has been adjusted laterally of the machine to such an extent that the flat portion 56 is in line with and resting on one rail, and the flat portion 51 is in line with and resting on the other rail. The pusher mechanism of the machine is now set in motion, the pusher chains moving pusher bar 26 onto the forward ends of rails 21. 'The operator of the machine places a post on the rails directly in front of this pusher bar, which then carries the post toward and beneath the first abrasive belt 28, All abrasive belts required to contact a given surface must have some form of backing to prevent the belt from pulling away from the surface intended to be abraded. In the present instance it is contemplated to provide one or more shoes that contact the inner face of the belt at points which, in the present disclosure, correspond to the location of the flat surfaces 56 and 51 of the post 54. It is also contemplated that the shoes which back up the belt will be slightly inclined so as to tilt the belt transversely of its length to an extent to allow the leading edge of each top surface of the post to freely move beneath the belt. Of course, as the post continues to move beneath the belt, the more remote portions of the belt will have increasing pressure contact with the post and, by the time the post has been moved past the belt, its upper surfaces will have been abraded to the desired extent.

The extent to which the abrasive belt 28 is effective on the surfaces A of the post is controllable by providing an abrasive belt of given roughness, controlling the speed of rotation of the belt and controlling the speed with which the pusher bar moves the post over the rails in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the belt. As the pusher bar continues to move the post, the surfaces A thereof come in contact with the second abrasive belt 29 of this first set of belts and the final work of sanding or smoothing surfaces A is effected. Since the wheels 4| are attached to the sides of the rails 21, and one lug 41 of each wheel projects above the upper surface of the corresponding rail, the leading, vertical, flat surfaces of the post will contact these lugs, and as the pusher bar continues movement of the post, wheels 4| will rotate from their inoperative position of Fig. 4 into the position of Fig. 5, wherein the surface 43 of each wheel is parallel with the upper surface of the corresponding rail. Continued movement of the pusher bar and post causes said post to approach, tilt, and move downwardly of the inclined wall 38 to a point where the leading corner rests in the base of the depressions 31. In this position (see Fig. 6) the trailing edge of the post, with which the pusher bar 26 has heretofore been in contact, has moved out of the plane of the pusher bar and said bar now contacts the next succeeding lugs 41. Thus, as the pusher bar continues movement, the post is turned by the turning of wheels 4| and, as surfaces 46 of the wheels come parallel with the upper surfaces of the rails, the post has been moved up the inclines 39 and now again rests on the upper surfaces of the rails, having been rotated or turned 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis (see Figs. 6 and '1). Further movement of the pusher bar continues rotation of wheels 4| to an extent that the lugs 41, with which the bar has been in contact, are moved to a position substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the rails (see Fig. 8). With the wheels in this position, the pusher bar again contacts the trailing face of the post and continues movement thereof toward the second set of abrading belts Y. Of course, the leading face of this post is the surface A that has already been operated on by the first set of abrading belts, and the next adjacent surface B, being uppermost, is in position to be operated on by the next set of abrading belts Y. Examination of Fig. 8 suggests that when the pusher bar, shown in Figs. 4 to '1, has moved out of contact with the wheels, said wheels are again in the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein they are ready to be contacted by the leading edge of the 75 next post mounted on the conveyor which, of

omega- 1o course, in turn being moved along the. rails by a further pusher bar. It will be noted that the second post contacts lugs B of the wheels, which lugs are diametrically opposite from lugs A describedin-the previous operation- It: is again mentioned that: since the. illustrated articlev is a four-sided post, four sets of abrading'belts-will be provided and, foll'owingtheabradirrg operating onsurface Y of the post by belts B, further setsof wheel's (not shown) will turn the post-- to successively present surfaces C and D thereof to a third and" fourth set of belts (not shown) When the post has passed the last set of belts it may be removed from the rails and, of course, all four sets of surfaces or sides will present the desired finished smoothness. Since the direction of travel of the belts is perpendicular to-the direction of movement of the=post during each abrading operation, it is practically impossible for the belts to leave any lengthwise extending abrasive marks or gouges on the surfaces of the post. Furthermore, since the rate of travel of the belts is many times the rate of travel of the post during its contact with the belts, there is little or no possibility of any other directional gouge or defacement of the post surfaces.

Reference is now had to Fig. of the drawing, wherein a modification of the wheel aligning structure is shown. This wheel is identical with the wheel 4| above described. A member 56 is mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 51. The end of this member is flanged to provide a shoul der 58 with which lugs 41 may contact in substantially the same manner as the shoulder 5| of. the previously described structure, In order that the member 56 will yieldingly maintain a position such that the wheel can rotate in only one direction, a spring 59 is provided. This spring may be of a type having a centrally looped portion that terminates in opposed wings 6|. One wing engages one side of the member 56, whereas the other Wing engages the opposite side of this member and exerts an opposing pressure. When the spring 59 is secured against turning with the wings thereof substantially as shown, the member 55 may be. yieldingly moved out of its blocking position by each succeeding lug 4'! as the wheel rotates in the operation of turning the post or other article carried by the rails.

A further modification of the structure for constraining movement of wheels 4| to. only one direction is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawing. Herein each wheel. 4| includes a pronged member 62 that is secured to and adapted to rotate with the: wheel. The prongs or arms 63 of this member are somewhat rounded at their ends. Mounted on each rail is a spring strap 64, one. end of this strap being rigidly secured in any suitable manner, as by one or more screws 66. The other end of this strap is formed with a shoulder 61 which seats against one side of a prong 63 and prevents rotation of the wheel in one direction. Of course, the wheel may rotate in its proper direction since the prongs will swing the spring strap out of the way as they come in contact with it adjacent the shoulderv 61. To prevent undue rebound action of the strap, a suitable damper pin 68 may be provided, as shown.

Reference is. now had to a modification of the turning mechanism heretofore described. In this instance, as indicated by the structure shown in Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, it is contemplated to turn an article 180 degrees. Many panels or other elements that go to make up articles of furniture arerequired to be provided with a finished or-sm'ooth surfaceepreparatorytoassembly. The rails 21- may be as heretofore described. The turning: wheels, however, are of somewhat different design; These-wheels 1-0 aremounted for free rotation about; their respective horizontal shafts 112.. Each wheel includes three uniformly dis-- tributed, outwardly extending, triangular prongs- 12; The. leading: edge 13 of each of these prongs forms a surface similar to the surface 44 or 45 of theipreviously described wheel. The inner end ofv each of these surfaces isterminated by a shoulder 14, having a return-directed lug 16 that, in co-operation withthe surface 13, provides ashallow recess l1. Beyond the lugs 16 this portion of the wheel. is. curved and. its. contour is of no particular consideration until it blends with the base of the trailing edge 1-8 of the next adjacent prong 12. A pusher bar 1-9 is attached to a corresponding pair of brackets. 25, carried by the chains 20. This pusher bar is of somewhat'different. proportions than the. onepreviously described and. will be varied as to its leading. edge 8| as-wellashei'ght, in accordance with theproportions of the article it is to move and assist in turning in cooperation with the wheels 70.

For the purpose of. more particularly illustrating this modification of the invention, it is contemplated to turn a panel of the nature shown in Fig. 12 and indicated by the numeral 82. Since it is contemplated to prepare or smooth only two opposite surfaces of the panel 82, it will. of course be obivous that only the first and second set of abradi'ng belts X and Y will be required and only one set of'turning wheels as well. In the operation of this structure, when the panel 82 has passed beneath and beyond the set of belts X, the leading edge 83' thereof moves into recess Tl andcontacts shoulderl' lof those portions of the wheels HI that extend above the upper surfaces of the rails 2T. Continued movement of the pusher bar causes the wheels to commence rotating about their shafts H, and this rotation, as may be seen in Fig. 13, causes the trailing edge of the panel cam-be raised from off the rails 27 to such an extent that the pusher bar finally moves beneath this edge. Of course, for the panel to assume the position of Fig. 13, the wheels 10 must have rotated sufficiently to bring the ends of a pair of prongs '12 above the upper surfaces of the rails 21', As the pusher bar continues its movementalong the rails and further tilts the panel 82, it comes into contact with the ends of the prongs 12: and wheels 10 are now caused to con tinue rotation by direct contact with the pusher bar. Due to the. location and depth of the depressions or recesses 31, or' due to the location of the'wheels 10 with respect to these recesses, rotation of the wheels brings the panel into a vertical edgewiseposition, the: leading edge thereof having movedidown; the surfaces 38 to the bottom of the depressions- As the pusher bar continues its action against thettrailing edges 18 of the prongs, the wheels continue to rotate and it will'be found that the prongs will have moved the panel into a. vertical edgewise position from which it tips over forwardly and falls, with its previously trailing edge in a leading position, onto the top surfaces of the rails 21; therearmost portion of the panel at this point slightly overlying the inclined surfaces 39- of' the depressions 31. As the pusher bar continues to rotate the wheels, the prongs 12 contact the present rear edge of the panel, pushing italong the rails until the ends of the prongs move beneath the top surfaces of the rails (see Fig. 12) Atthis point the pusher bar again contacts the rear edge of the panel and moves it along the rails toward the other end of the machine. When the panel has passed the wheels, they will have turned one-third of a complete revolution and, thus, the next succeeding prongs I2, shoulders 14 and lugs 16 are now in place to engage the next succeeding panel as it moves over the rails by the next succeeding pusher bar. The wheels 70 may be constrained to rotate in only one direction through use of the weighted structure previously described and shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, or either of the modifications of this structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Regardless of the structure used for this purpose, the wheels 10 will be unable to rotate in any but a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing.

Attention is now directed to a further modification of the structure forming a part of the invention. In this modification (Figs. 15 and 16), it is contemplated to provide facilities for rotating a hexagonal post or article such as the one illustrated and indicated by the numeral 86. One or more sets of wheels 81 are provided, being mounted on horizontally disposed pins or shafts 88, carried by rails 21. Each of these Wheels is formed with six uniformly distributed, outwardly extending teeth 89, the leading edge of each forming an inclined surface 9!, and the trailing surface, a shoulder 92. In position of rest, a pair of wheels are as shown in Fig. 15, the surface 9! being parallel to and flush with or slightly beneath the top surface of the rails 21. In this position of the wheels, shoulders 92 constitute abutments with which the lower leading surface 93 of the post 86 is adapted to contact as it is moved over the rails by a pusher bar 94. Continued movement of the pusher bar starts wheels 81 rotating and, as may be seen by a comparison of Figs. 15 and 16, the leading surfaces 9| of the next adjacent teeth 89 pick up the post and commence turning it. Of course, the turning operation could not be properly effected without the provision of the recesses or depressions 31 in the tops of the rails. Thus, as the post 82 swings downwardly into these recesses, it is turned with the wheels to such a point that the surface 93 contacts the inclined surfaces 39 of the rail depressions. It will be understood that in between the positions of Figs. 15 and 16 the pusher bar has changed from contact with the post 86 to contact with the trailing edges of a pair of teeth 89, and as this bar now continues rotation of these wheels, the post 86 is slid up the incline 31 to the position where surface 93 now rests on the top surface of the rails. The pusher bar now again contacts the trailing portion of the post, continuing movement thereof toward the end of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a machine embodying the invention is capable of conveying a multiplicity of posts or other articles from one given point to another and that during such conveyance the articles or posts are turned about their longitudinal axes to an extent to successively present given surfaces in a given plane at whatever number of work stations may be required. It is, therefore, believed that although applicant shows and described only one form of conveyor and three modifications of turning mechanisms, many adaptations of the structure may be made and are contemplated in connection with the use of the invention with articles or posts other than those shown, insofar as such adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim is new and for which I desire protection by Letter Patent is:

l. A machine having a stationary article support substantially co-extensive therewith, a pusher operable to move an article placed on said support from one to the other end of said machine, and means for rotating an article during movement by said pusher, said means including parts for receiving an article and being rotated thereby to effect turning said article.

2. In a machine for abrading surfaces of a multiple-sided stationary article, a horizontally disposed article support substantially co-extensive with said machine, pusher means operable to engage and continuously move said article along said support from one end to the other of said machine, operable abrading means located above said support in position for contact with the upper surfaces of articles adapted to move along said support, rotatable members adjacent said abrading means carried by said support and projecting into the path of travel of an article, portions on said members cooperating to be simultaneously engaged by a moving article in a manner to rotate said members and the article engaged thereby whereby to present a given side of said article to said abrading means.

3. In a machine for producing given work on successive sides of multiple-sided articles, a sta tionary article support, means operable to engage and continuously slide articles along said support from one end to the other of said machine, work stations disposed throughout the length of said machine, said stations corresponding in number at least to the number of sides of the articles on which work is to be produced, rotatable members mounted on said support in advance of certain of said work stations, an article engaging portion on each of said members extending above said support into the path of travel of said articles, said engaging portions, when said members are rotated by contact of an article therewith, cooperating to simultaneously engage and rotate said article about its longitudinal axis to an extent to present a given side thereof at one of said work stations.

4. In a machine having an article support substantially co-extensive therewith and a pusher operable to move an article mounted on said support from one to the other end of said machine, an article turning mechanism comprising a set of members mounted for rotation in the direction of movement of said pusher, means on the edges of said members cooperating to provide a cradle adapted to receive, pick up and partially turn an article by rotation of said members effected through contact with a moving article.

5. In a machine having an article support substantially co-extensive therewith and a pusher operable to move an article mounted on said support from one to the other end of said machine, an article turning mechanism comprising a set of members mounted for rotation about axes perpendicular to the direction of movement of said pusher, uniformly distributed cradle-like projections on the edge of each of said members, corresponding projections of each member being simultaneously engageable by a moving article in a manner to rotate said members and cause said projections to pick up and turn said article.

6. In a machine having an article support substantially co-extensive therewith and a pusher operable to move an article mounted on said support from one to the other end of said machine,

answers an article turning mechanism comprising a set e'f'merribers mounted for rotation about axes perpendicular to the direction of movement of said pusher, uniformly distributed projections and ledges on the periphery of 'eachof said members, an'adii acent projection and ledge co-operating to provide a cradle adapted to receive an edge portion of an article, said pusher being adapted to move an article onto'the cradles of said members andeffect-rotation of said members and said article to a predetermined extent.

'7. In'a machine "having-an article support sub-- stantially -'co-extensive 'itherewith and a pusher operable to'move an-articlemounted on said support from one to 'the-other-end of said machine, an article -turning mechanism comprising a set of members mounted for rotation aboutfixed axes,

. means forming part of said members andsaid'support co-operating toeifect turning of an article when said members are turnedby contact therewith "of a moving article, and other means for preventing rotation of said members in a direction contrary to "the direction required to turn said article.

'8. In a machine having a fixed article support substantiallycoextensive therewith and a pusher openab'le tomove an article-mounted on said support from one to'the other end "of said. machine; an article "turningmeohanism comprisin'g a. set of members mounted for rotation about fixed axes, corresponding cradle-'like projections on said members located 'at least partially in the path of movement of an article as it is moved 12 along said :support, said support having recesses adjacent said members, said members cooperating with the recessesof said support to turn an article :during movement along said support by said :pusher and during contact of said article with said rotatable members.

9. In :a machine having a stationary article support substantially :co-extensive therewith and :a pusherroperableto slide an article placed on said support from one to the other -end :of said machine; an article turning mechanismcompris- 'ing a set "of members mounted for rotation in the idirectionpf movement of said pusher, projections on'saidmembers extending into the path .ofmovement of said article-and cooperating =tobe engaged and turned bysaidarticIe -and to in-turn efiect turning said article.

LI-NSLY-G. BRQWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED I STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "1';043,"1-94 Bleuney 'NOV. 5, 1912 1,505,867 Cote 'Aug. '19, 1924 1;727i863 Clifford Sept. 10, 1929 "1,958,525 Weber May '15, 1934 1,9583526 Weber 'May'15, 1934 2,'3444'76 Turnbull Mar. 14, I944 

